Introduction to Prayer
Lakewood / Speaker: Pastor Jonathan / 9-6-2015
2 Chronicles 7:13-16
(13) If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the
land, or if I send pestilence among my people;
(14) If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and
seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will
forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
(15) Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this
place.
(16) For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever:
and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.
Introduction:
¥ Last week I talked with you about Intercessory Prayer
¥ The events in our nation tell us that the Church is not praying enough for America
o Maybe they don’t know how
o Maybe they’re too lazy (prayer IS work)
o Maybe they lack inspiration
o We can help fix the first and last reason, not sure about the “lazy” lol
¥ There are several “types” of prayer discussed in God’s Word and sometimes we don’t receive what we need because we ask amiss. (James 4:6)
o Some people are using a hammer when they need a screwdriver
o Or, using a toaster oven instead of a microwave etc.
¥ There are at least 6 forms of prayer mentioned in the Bible. We will focus on overviewing them today.
o They have different functions and are utilized in different ways.
Intro Ended:
I. The Prayer of Agreement
A. In Matthew 18:19, Jesus introduced the prayer of agreement when He said, "'Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven'" (NKJV).
B. Right off the bat you can see that for the prayer of agreement to work, the people involved in the prayer have to agree!
1. The person that you are agreeing in prayer with has to be in “agreement” with what you are asking for.
2. The prayer has to be in agreement with the Word of God
3. We also need to pray prayers that are in agreement with God’s plan and purpose for all involved
II. The Prayer of Faith
The prayer of faith, also known as the prayer of petition, is the prayer that most people think of when they use the term "prayer."
A. A Prayer of Petition is a request that we make known to God. This takes faith… We must believe that God is able to do exceeding, abundantly above all that we ask or think… Ephesians 3:20
1. The key verse for the prayer of faith is Mark 11:24, in which Jesus says, "'Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them.'"
2. When you pray—not after you pray, not when you feel something, not when you see something. When you pray (the moment that you pray) you must believe that you receive what you asked for. (Expound)
B. Hebrews 11:1 says, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
1. Your faith is the substance. Without substance there can be no evidence.
C. God answers prayers, and He will answer your specific prayer in line with His Word, but it is your faith that brings that answer out of the spiritual world and into the physical world.
1. How many times in Scripture does Jesus say to someone, "According to your faith"?
2. The power of God is what heals people but it is our “prayer of faith” that sets in motion the reception of that healing.
3. God’s power does not change. People and belief systems change. Cultures affect our ability to receive. (An unbelieving culture is very hard to receive from God in… Look at missions.)
III. The Prayer of Consecration and Dedication
In Luke 22:41-42, we see outlined the prayer of consecration and dedication: "And He [Jesus] was withdrawn from them [Peter, James and John] about a stone's throw, and He knelt down and prayed, saying, 'Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.'"
A. Jesus was praying a prayer of surrender. "Nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done."
1. Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service, usually religious. The word consecration literally means "association with the sacred".
B. The Prayer of Consecration and Dedication says, "I may not know how and I may not know when but God I am going to let you chart my course."
1. It's giving up control to God!
C. The prayer of consecration and dedication works when you have two (or more) Godly alternatives before you, and you are not getting a clear sense at that time about which option God wants you to take.
1. That is the perfect time to say, "Lord, not my will...
IV. Praise and Worship
Praise and Worship is not about asking God for things or trying to get stuff from Him. It’s about spending quality time with God and loving on Him.
A. What kind of relationship would we have with our kids if all they did was ask for things?
1. Relationships are about much more than seeing what you can get from someone. Quality relationships are about giving yourself away for the betterment of others. JUST ASK JESUS!
B. Examples of Praise & Worship type prayers.
1. Luke 2:20 - "Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, as it was told them." (The shepherds didn't petition Jesus, they worshipped Him)
2. In Luke 18:43, the blind man who was healed was described as "glorifying God." The verse also says all the people who witnessed the miracle "gave praise to God." They prayed prayers of thanksgiving.
C. A lifestyle of praise gains us a perpetual audience with God. Worship helps us live at His feet. (Under His care and control)
Psalms 100:4 - Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name.
1. Philippians 4:6 - "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God"
¥ This says that even when we pray the prayer of faith, we should always intersperse worship and praise.
V. The Prayer of Intercession
Intercession means you are interceding—acting in prayer—on behalf of someone else. We talked about this last week.
A. Jesus is the Great Intercessor and we are spiritually connected to Him.
1. Jesus is the Head of the Church and we are His body.
Hebrews 7:25
Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God
by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
B. As Christian Disciples (fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ) we are all called to intercession.
Ephesians 1:15-18
"Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints."
1. Here Paul makes it plain that he prayed regularly for the church at Ephesus and for the individuals there to receive these blessings.
Philippians 1:3-4
"I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy"
1. This is Paul interceding for the church at Phillipi
VI. Binding & Loosing
Matthew 18:18-19. Jesus says: "'Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.'"
A. “Whatever we bind on earth will be bound in heaven, whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven…”
1. God is a covenant God.
2. The action begins on earth and is ratified in heaven. (Heaven contains what we need but we begin the transfer here on earth through prayer)
B. The activities include both binding and loosing.
1. This is where people get flaky sometimes. Make sure your prayers are in line with God’s Word. God will not go against His Word.
2. When we become completely “sold out” to God then His desires become our desires and what’s in His heart becomes prominent in our heart.
3. You can, however, bind foul spirits that are at work in people's lives or loose angelic spirits to work on your behalf in those areas where God has already promised you results. When you pray in this manner, God affirms it in heaven and puts His seal of approval on your prayer.
4. Binding and loosing have to be based on the authority God has granted you in Scripture, not on some desire you have.
Closing:
• God has provided each type of prayer for a specific purpose.
• The proper use of prayer is just as important as praying…
